Projects 112-114 of 365: Christmas Cards for Elizabeth Residences December 13, 2010

I always enjoy doing card classes for the ladies (and a few gentlemen) at Elizabeth Residences, an assisted living facility about 45 minutes from my home.  I was so excited to be invited to do another class with them, as it has been several months since I have been back….

Then the morning of the class (last Thursday) I got the dreaded news that my grandmother (from Arkansas) had passed away over night.  I had just returned from flying out to see her and be with my mother after “Granny” had had a stroke the prior week.  I so hoped she would recover, as I hadn’t spent nearly as much time with her over the years as I had wished I had.  There was so much lost time that needed to be made up for from when my brother and I were children and custody cases led to our father taking us so far away from so much of our family.  In recent years as all the true stories of those dark days come to the surface I’ve been trying and promising to spend more time with this whole HALF of my family.  Its just so hard to accept that where I thought I still had several years its already too late.  I will always regret waiting too long.  I will always be sorry for not trying harder to visit like I said I would.  On the rare occasions that I did get to spend time with them it was so special for me, and it was a beginning to filling in that hole in my gut from wondering “who am I.”  Visiting down there always feels like its the place I am supposed to be.  There are people who look like me, and like the same things I like.  It feels like I place I could call home.

This year has been so tough…I lost both of my grandmothers in the past 5 months, and a long line of other misfortunes this year.  So All I can say is that I have no doubt that next year will be a better year.

….Anyways….I still went and held the card class, as I already had everything all planned and packed up ready to go…and I knew it would take my mind off things for a little while, since I couldn’t go back to Arkansas  any way….there was a huge winter storm on its way in….

Here are the three cards I had everyone make:

Projects 112-114 of 365: Christmas Cards for Elizabeth Residences

112 of 365: Simple Santa

 

The Simple Santa card is cased from a card by J. Belanger on SplitCoast Stampers

113 of 365: Blue Christmas

 

 

114 of 365: Ornamental Season

 

The Ornamental Season card is cased from a card by Marie Shaughnessy from SplitCoast Stampers.

Stamp Sets Used:

• Many Merry Messages
• Snow Swirled
• Tags Til Christmas
• Lovely as a Tree
• Christmas Punch
• Serene Snowflakes

 

Thanks for stopping by….be back soon!

StampinBetty

Project 19 of 365: CosmoBella Hits the Town June 5, 2010

I have the cutest card today…well at least I think so 🙂  I just wish I would have come up with it last week, because with the Cosmo and all the Pink this would have been perfect for “Sex and the City 2” movie night!

I made this card as part of Splitcoast Stampers Technique Lover’s Challenge #275.  Each Monday they post a technique to try…This week the technique was to create a Tent Card.  This is a  card that stands on its own, has a cut out in the center and a dangling image.  I knew as soon as I saw it that I wanted to use this Stamping Bella stamp that my great friend, Kelly, gave me a couple years ago.  Of course now that I found the perfect project to use it on it was MIA.  After much searching I found the Cosmo wielding Bella, and designed the rest of the card around her.  So, no, the stamp is not from Stampin’ Up! but all the papers and brads are 🙂

Project 19 of 365: CosmoBella Hits the Town

19 of 365: Cosmo Bella

While this front view is cute it is even better when you view it from the side and see how the card is actually open and the image is really “dancing” there in the center.  I tried to make it look like Cosmo Bella was in a trendy downtown bar with the vintage-looking wallpaper design in the background.  Sure its a bit pink, so this bar probably wouldn’t attract too many men, but if you’re hanging with the girls, having a Cosmo, are your really looking for guys???

Then for some extra 3D effects I added a couple of flowers.  One made with the XL Fancy Flower Punch, the other one made from the Flower on the Tropical Island Bigz Die.  These flowers are so fun and addicting to make.  This is why I prefer to make my own embellishments rather than buy them.  I don’t know what embellishment I would have bought that would have worked the same as the flowers…

Here is a better view from the side so you can get a real feel for why this card is so cool…

19 of 365: Cosmo Bella

The idea behind the tent card is that it is a 3D card that also folds flat so it can be mailed in a regular envelope.  Obviously mine would not fold flat (due to the roses), but a girl’s gotta have fun and I really wanted to give this card some SUPER girl power 🙂

Everyone is sworn to secrecy…..Do not tell my husband that this card ended up costing me $40!  Don’t worry the card itself did not cost $40 to make.  The issue was that I did not have the jump rings to dangle Bella from, and I did not want to substitute thread (it wouldn’t have the same affect).  I knew it was dangerous to take a “quick” trip to JoAnn’s to get the $2 package of jump rings, but I risked it and FAILED.  Try as I might I just could not go in, buy the jump rings I needed, and walk out 😦  But hey, I got some new crafting toys that I will share on my blog 🙂

Supplies:

Paper:

• Whisper White
• Rose Red
• Cameo Coral
• Sweet Always DSP (retired)
• Raspberry Tart (retired)

Ink:

• Rose Red

Accessories:

• XL Fancy Flower Punch
• Bigz- Frame, Oval Scallop
• Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder
• Bigz- Tropical Island Die
• Fire Circle Rhinestone Brads
• Pop-Up Glue Dots
• Snail Adhesive

Non-SU:

• Cosmo Bella Stamp- by Stampping Bella
• Jump Rings
• Copic Markers (oh how I love my Copics!!)

Please Stop back soon to see what the next StampinBetty adventure might be, and remember that you can get all your Stampin Up! Supplies from my Stampin Up! site.

19 of 365: Cosmo Bella

Project 13 0f 365: Anniversary Explosion Box May 30, 2010

13 of 365: Anniversary Explosion Box

Hi All!

The project I am posting today is a belated Anniversary gift for some friends.  When I posted my first blog they had mentioned they liked the Explosion Box Project, and since I had neglected to make them an Anniversary Card, I told them I would make them one if they told me what colors they liked.  Tina said she liked Green and her husband liked Dark Purple, so I hope the colors I used are close enough.  I will soon find out as I will be giving this to them when I head over there in a little while for a pre-Memorial Day cookout!  Yum- Yum…I can’t wait…..Plus I get to give them their gift in front of other people…and maybe, just maybe, some of those people will want one too 🙂

I have been thinking about either holding an Explosion Box class or selling them per request (incorporating colors/themes the people want.)  I am still working out how much is a fair price….So if any of you out there would like me to make an Explosion Box for you, or are interested in hosting a class let me know!!  Email me at betty.ray020@gmail.com.

These boxes really show better when they are filled with pictures and momentos….so click HERE to be taken to the original one I made a couple weeks ago which looks more polished since it is full of pictures and other little things 🙂

Project 13 of 365: Anniversary Explosion Box

13 of 365: Anniversary Explosion Box

Click Here to be taken to my Stampin’ Up! site to purchase current Stampin’ Up! products used to complete this project.

Supplies:

Paper:

• Whisper White Textured
• Rich Razzleberry Textured
• Kiwi Kiss Textured (Retired)
• Bermuda bay Tetured
• Walk in the Park DSP (Retired)

Classic Ink Pads:

• Kiwi Kiss (Retired)
• Old Olive
• Rich Razzleberry
• Bermuda Bay

Stamp Sets:

• Vintage Vogue
• Lovely Letters

Accessories:

• Versa Mark Pad
• White Emboss Powder
• Beautiful Wings Embosslit
• Simple Flower Embosslit
• Lattice Bigz Die
• Stampin’ Dimensionals
• Ornament Punch
• Stickles (non SU)
• Pearls (non SU)
• Crystal Effects

More Pictures:

13 of 365: Anniversary Explosion Box

13 of 365: Anniversary Explosion Box

13 of 365: Anniversary Explosion Box

13 of 365: Anniversary Explosion Box

13 of 365: Anniversary Explosion Box

13. Anniversary Explosion Box

13 of 365: Anniversary Explosion Box

I have so many projects partially finished or still floating around in my head so check back often to watch me complete 365 Stampin’ Up! projects in 365 Days.

Have a Fun and Safe Memorial Day!

StampinBetty